Leak-stopper



l. ENDRESON.

LEAK .STUPPER. APPLICATION FILED min. 1918.

Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR J. ENDRESON.

LEAK STOPPER.

APPLICATION m n JUNE 2.7. 1918.

1,303,049. Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR John En dresorz ATTORNEY mr Nmams warms c0 Puomilrnm. WAsn-Nu m. n c.

JOHN ENDRESON, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

LEAK-STOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application filed June 27, 1918. Serial No. 242,201.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN ENoREsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Leak-Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to leak stoppers for vessels and has for its principal object the provision of a device which will beadapted to quickly and tightly close the leak so as to prevent the sinking of the vessel; and the device consists of a pador cover normally positioned at a suitable point upon the yes sel and means for instantly moving said pad or cover from its normal position to one directly over the leak in the hull of the vessel and for placing said pad or cover under tension to cause it to resist the pressure of the outside water and thereby assure a perfect seating thereof over the leak and prevent the pador cover from shiftin out of its intended position when applie With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, has been illustrated, a single and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

Figure 1 is a side view of a vessel showing the application of the invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof- Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the pad carrieiz.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through a portion of the keel of a vessel showing the pad carrier associated therewith.

' Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the pad frame.

Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section taken approximately on line 77 of Fig. 1.

The device is designed for use in connection with sea going vessels and the like which, aside from being subjected to the ordinary hazards of the sea are frequently made to encounter shell attacks and the like which frequently result in penetrating the hull ofthe vessel andproducing leaks therein. With this in view the present invention aims to provide a means which will consist of a flexible pad or covering which is normally positioned at the bow of the vessel above the water line and mechanism for shifting the same from its normal position to a point in line with the ruptured portion or leak in the vessel so as to close the latter and prevent the vessel from sinking by overfilling with water.

In practice use is made of side cables 10-10 which extendalong the sides of the hull of the vessel at a pointabove the water line. At the front ends the cables terminate directly at the bow, while at the opposite nal and vertical movements upon the vessel and as illustrated it is provided with a keel receiving portion 13 which is. adapted, in stirrup-like manner to accommodatethe keel when the pads are adjusted to leak sealing positions. The said portion 18 is provided with anti-friction rollers 14L which are adapted to travel over. the base of the keel as illustrated in'Fig. tso as to minimize the resistance of movement of the structure when adjusting the same to the desired positions. The pad carrier is provided with flexible side frames or reinforcements 15 as fully shown in Fig. 5. These frames are each made up of vertical cables 16, cross cables 17, vertical chains 18, transverse chains 19 and flexible side cables or rods 20. The cables 16, chains 18 and rods 20 all have their lower ends fixedly connected to the lateral branches 21 of the pad carrier 12. These several chains and rods are all connected with .each other attheir points of intersection as at 22. Each of the frames formed in the manner set forth above is provided with a pliable facing 23 formed of sail cloth or the like which will resist the action of the water. By providing a frame of the nature set forth and combining the same with the facing 23 a highly efiective pad or covering is provided which will be flexible in practically all directions so that it is. capable of being brought under suflicient tension to secure uniformity in its arrangeinent over the hole or leak to he cow ered. It is also flexible to adapt itself to various irregularities in the hull of the vessel.

The rods 20 and chains 18 of each of the mentioned frames 15 are extended in vertical directions above the main body of the frames where they are operatively connected with pulleys 23 and 24: respectively, said pulleys having operative connection with the cables 10 as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This arrangement when combined with the anti-friction rollers 14 permits of freedom of motion of the pads or coverings when it is desired to adjust the same over the leak to be sealed.

The end pulleys 24 and the eyes 25 of the intermediate pulleys are connected with a cable 26 whose branches 27 are extended over the rails of the vessel where they may be conveniently drawn in an upward direction. This arrangement permits the pads or coverings to be stretched in a vertical direction for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The frames 15 are also connected with tensioning cables 28 which lead over a pulley block 29 to which latter is connected a cable 30 which may be drawn manually to tension the pads in an aft direction. Similar cables 31 are connected to a block 32 having a tensioning ca le 33 by means of which the pads can be tensioned in a forward direction. In addition to these last named cables 30 and 33 I provide the pad carrier 12 with cables 34: which pass over the bow of the vessel. Said cables 33 may be drawn manually or paid out as desired when it becomes necessary to shift the positions of the leak closing pads.

From the construction described it will be manifest that the pads when not in use can be arran ed in the dotted line positions shown in *ig. 1. At the time of the formation of a leak in the hull of the vessel all of the cables are manipulated so as to permit the pads to be properly lowered and the car rier 12 positioned beneath the keel of the vessel- After this has been accomplished the side cables 30 which lead to the pads can drawn so as to slide the pads to the requisite points to be sealed.

What is claimed as new is 1. A leak stopper for marine vessels comprising a longitudinally sliding pad extending approximately from the keel to the water line of the vessel, means on the pad adapted to slidably engage with the keel, a cable adapted to extend from how to stern of the vessel, the pad having devices slidable over the cable and means for holding the pad in a relatively fixed position against the hull.

2. A leak stopper comprising a'pad arranged to respectively slide in a longitudinal direction upon the vessel and tilt vertically thereon, a fixed cable supporting the pad along its upper edge and extending from bow to stern of the vessel, said pad having sliding engagement at its lower edge with the keel, and mechanism for respectively tilting and sliding the pad.

3. A leak stopper comprising a pad, means adapted to be extended in the length of a vessel for suspending the pad and for accommodating slidable movement of the pad in the length of the vessel, means at the base of the pad for slidably aocommodating the keel, and means for respectively sliding the pad and for holding the same in a relatively fixed position.

4. A leak stopper comprising a flexible pad of water resisting material, means for accommodating the pad for sliding and tilting movements respectii ely, said means embodying a supporting cable and pulleys carried by the pad and slidable on said cable, and mechanism for effecting sliding and tilting movements of said pad.

5. A leak stopper comprising a pad carrier freely embracing the keel and provided with rollers arranged in traveling contact with the keel, pads rising from the carrier and adapted to be disposed at the sides of the hull of the vessel, means adapted to extend in the length of the vessel and slidably accommodating the upper ends of the pads, and means for holding said pads fixed against the sides of the hull of the vessel.

6. A leak stopper comprising a pad carrier slidable in the length of the keel, pads extending from the sides of the carrier and adapted to be adjusted against the sides of the hull of the vessel means extending in the length of the vessel for slidably supportingthe upper portions of the pads, and means for sliding. the carrier and the pads and for holding the pads against the hull of the vessel. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my. signature.

- JOHN ENDRESON.

Gable! of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. i 

